Automobile Essentials and New Directions

The automobile buyer's options are extensive and limited only by his/her pocketbook, driving skills and practical needs. This book is intended to give the buyer a background in automobile fundamentals and in benefits of new technology before he/she invests considerable treasure in a personal conveyance. Some key subjects covered are: • How American automakers lost a significant share of the domestic market to foreign automakers. Secrets of Toyota's success • The present automobile market • Factors of drag, rolling resistance, and inertia that influence gasoline consumption. Driving profiles for EPA fuel economy testing • Automobile fuels, octane, and energy • Gasoline engines, diesel engines, and natural gas engines. Relationship between torque and horsepower • Techniques to improve performance and efficiency of engines. Turbocharging and supercharging, variable compression ratio, cylinder deactivation, direct ignition, Atkinson/Miller cycle, and homogeneous charge compression ignition • Tailpipe emissions and regulations • Electric vehicles powered by batteries and fuel cells • Power/energy of batteries and fuel cells. The hydrogen highway • Hybrid electric/internal combustion vehicles • Sport Utility Vehicles: the big, the small, and safety concerns • Luxury Sedans: Rolls-Royce and Bentley lead a distinguished list • Exotic Sports Cars: Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Porsche are a few of the impressive cars covered